The first ski mountaineering festival in Italy, in its first edition, presents itself as an opportunity to live experiences on marked routes of various levels, to preview the new FW 24/25 collections, to meet athletes of this sport, ready to debut as an Olympic discipline in Italy, in Milan Cortina 2026, but also to share their passion and party during the Skimoparty, scheduled for Saturday evening at the Pentagon in Bormio.
An evening by Patagonia is planned for March 8th with the screening of the short film “The Meaningless Pursuit of Snow”. A film that tells the story of five individuals, all faithful to the culture of ski mountaineering and snowboarding, with a passion that overcomes any language barrier and bridges any generation gap.
The headquarters will be the village of Santa Caterina Valfurva, located in La Fonte, at the base of the Cevedale slope where there will be musical entertainment during all three days, as well as the possibility of tasting typical food and wine products of Valtellina.
Area test
The best ski mountaineering brands will present their new collections for winter 24/25 in the test village set up at the foot of the Cevedale slope in Santa Caterina Valfurva.
Enthusiasts registered for Skimofestival will have the exclusive opportunity to preview new equipment, including boots, splitboards, bindings, skins, artvas, clothing, backpacks and helmets, to enjoy wonderful experiences on the specially designed ski slopes. tackling the descents of your choice, on marked and safe off-piste slopes, or on the groomed slopes of the area. A large heated room will allow you to change boots in maximum comfort, thus encouraging the possibility of trying as many brands as possible. A shuttle bus will run every 10 minutes between the village and the departure of the cable car which takes you to the Plaghera area (2,123 m), from which you can access the longest and most intense ski mountaineering itineraries. It will be possible to climb up to the Sunny Valley refuge (2,700 m.) and, from here, for the more adventurous, a safe ascent route will be prepared up to the Cima Sobretta, at an altitude of 3,296 meters, to enjoy an unforgettable 360° view of the Alps. The products available for testing may not be enough for everyone. Therefore, we suggest bringing your own equipment (skis/splitboards, boots, skins) and the safety kit (artva, probe, shovel) with you for off-piste experiences. Rentals may be available in the area for a fee at a discounted price.
You can test the equipment:
Immediately upstream from the village, on the final part of the track, where the ascent test field will be set up (with return to the track), to allow equipment testing in the most immediate and effective way. In the traced itineraries, different in difficulty, difference in altitude and commitment in the spectacular area of Santa Caterina Valfurva, in the heart of the Stelvio National Park, freely or during scheduled guided experiences.
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Experience
The jewel in the crown of the Skimofestival is precisely the wonderful experiences of ski mountaineering and splitboarding, which can be enjoyed in the spectacular area of Santa Caterina Valfurva, in the heart of the Stelvio National Park, conducted by the Alpine Guides of Bormio Skimo at pre-established times along marked itineraries , of various levels of difficulty, difference in altitude and commitment. The experiences will start from the test village of Santa Caterina and those who have previously registered on the site using the appropriate forms included in the program will be able to participate. Below are the various levels of experience: Skimo School (free ski mountaineering lessons for beginners given by the Skimofestival Alpine Guides), Slow Skimo (a “soft” excursion to Vallalpe 2,700 m., Skimo Adventure (an “intermediate” excursion to Monte Sobretta Nord 3,296 m.), Skimo On Top (an “intense” excursion to Monte Sobretta Sud 3,296 m.) and Women Skimo (a nocturnal “skimo” for women to celebrate “International Women’s Day”). When going off-piste it is also mandatory to have the safety kit (artva, probe, shovel). Space is also given to the very important topic of safety in the mountains through an avalanche transceiver camp by ARVA, managed by its Italian distributor Panorama Diffusion.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE EXPERIENCES!!
Skimo Sprint
On March 9, the festival will host the first edition of the “Skimo Sprint”, a relay ski mountaineering competition inspired by the format of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic races, an event that promises adrenaline, exciting challenges and endless fun. Registration is open for mixed teams of three members.
Where to sleep
To make the most of the experience at Skimofestival, it is recommended to take advantage of at least two full days of activities. The organization is working on creating some stay packages with discounted prices for overnight stays in the hotels of Santa Caterina Valfurva, Bormio, Valdidentro and Valdisotto as well as entrances to the Bormio spa. The packages will soon be available on the site. Thanks to the partnership with the Bormio area, the best conditions will be offered for a stay with a B&B or half board formula. For information and reservations, send your request here: [email protected]